Blackhawks' Emery healthy, staying ready

Backup goalie trying to keep sharp in case he's called upon

Hawks goalie Ray Emery stops a shot during a regular-season game in April. (Nuccio DiNuzzo/Tribune photo)

DETROIT — Ray Emery has had a front-row seat for the Blackhawks' postseason run, but he is more than your average interested spectator.

The veteran goaltender finally is healthy and is ready if called upon in his backup role to Corey Crawford.

"Even though I was back kind of a week ago, it's just kind of the last few days I've felt good in practice," said Emery, who hasn't played since suffering a lower-body injury April 24 against the Oilers. "You just stay ready if you're needed. Other than that, you're kind of riding the same highs and lows the guys are watching games."

Staying mentally focused while Crawford has performed very solidly — and at times spectacularly — in the playoffs is key for Emery, who split much of the goaltending duties during the regular season. He has not appeared in the Hawks' Western Conference semifinals series against the Red Wings.

"I try to do my best in practice," Emery said. "Our team has had close games and it's been an exciting series. I'm a fan right now and I'm just trying to keep myself sharp if something happens. I know if I haven't played for a while, you kind of keep it simple and not try to do too much when you first get in there."

With his contract set to expire after the season, Emery will be an unrestricted free agent, but the veteran said he isn't focused on where he'll play next season after recording a 17-1-0 record with the Hawks in 2013.

"You always set yourself up for the next year, but right now we're in a good playoff series so I'll keep it at that," he said.

Together again: After being split up since the end of March, longtime defensive partners Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook were reunited along the blue line during the Hawks' 4-1 victory in Game 5 on Saturday night.

"It's a comfort we have," Seabrook said. "We've played together for a lot of years, a lot of games. I know where he's going to be and he knows where I'm going to be."

The move seemed to jump start Seabrook's game. The veteran had seen his ice time limited the two previous games while he was paired with Nick Leddy. In Game 5, Seabrook played 23 minutes, 20 seconds and had an assist, seven shots and two hits.

"I wasn't happy with my game from the start of the series, and even going back to Minnesota (in the first round)," Seabrook said. "It was nice to have a better game (Saturday night).

"I've always had a lot of responsibility and played in key situations and been against their team's top line and felt I did a good job over the years," the veteran added. "That was my job. (Jonathan) Toews scores goals and (Patrick) Kane makes passes and scores goals. I'm the shutdown guy, physical guy who made it tough on team's top players. That's the role I love and take pride in and when I come to the rink that's the role I want to play."

Seafood: When the Hawks were in Detroit for Game 4, Keith skated over and took a good look at an octopus thrown onto the ice before puck drop — a tradition at Joe Louis Arena.

"I just wanted to look at it," Keith said. "I've never seen something like that, that big."

With tongue in cheek, Keith then wondered if the Wings should be penalized for tossing an octopus.

"Isn't it supposed to be a penalty when their fans are throwing things on the ice?" Keith said. "I think it's in the rule book. We can get a power play from that."

Time set: The starting time for Game 7, if necessary, on Wednesday at the United Center is 7 p.m.